Antoinette Montague


Antoinette Montague wraps up the PJS season with a tribute to Carrie Smith and Etta Jones, her two great mentors. Antoinette explains how Carrie Smith influenced her at a critical point in her life: “My mother was diagnosed with breast and braincancer during my days Seton Hall. Concentrating was difficult at best. I decided to let my full academic Martin Luther King Scholarship go, and get day job. I got involved with a little R & B band. I heard a woman named Carrie Smith, who was performing on Broadway, and fell in love with her sound. I volunteered to work with her and made it my own apprenticeship, a way to learn all aspects of the business. If she were appearing at the Blue Note, I would handle everything from soup to nuts, getting to see what it is to be a foot soldier working for an artist. When she went to Europe, where she was incredibly popular, I used my vacation time to travel with her. Carrie Smith was ready to retire when I met her, but we kept her working for another 10 years mostly based on relationships she had established with Dick Hyman and other people. She was my first mentor.”
Later, “I was on a jazz cruise with Carrie Smith in the mid 90’s when I met the great Etta Jones. Etta had a lot of patience for up and coming talent and invited me to sing at jam sessions. There was an instant connect between us. She took me under her wing and often came to hear me perform and provide pointers. Etta mentored me, encouraged me, mothered me. Etta pushed me to schedule more performances and develop a career. She died in 2001 and I miss her every day. I appreciate and cherish every life lesson I learned from each and every one of my Jazz family members, especially Etta Jones.
PJS is excited to welcome Antoinette Montague back to our stage for this emotional and musical tribute concert.

Event Location and Ticket Information

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PJS Jazz Society at First Presbyterian Church
199 North Columbus Ave
Mount Vernon, NY
Handicap Accessible? Yes

Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016
Times: 5:15 pm - 9:00 pm

Ticket pricing:

$25 - General Admission

Presenter: PJS Jazz Society, Inc.
Presenter Phone: 914-667-0823
Presenter Website: www.pjsjazz.org

Sponsor Message

PJS Jazz Society presents the best in jazz every Second Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, September through April. Young Musicians opening set from 5:15-6:00 pm. Two Headliner sets from 6:30-9:00 pm. Concerts are held in a cabaret setting. Additional parking available at the Holmes School (next to the First Presbyterian Church on Columbus Avenue).